WE HAVE FOUND THAT AFTER REMOVING THE BOLTS FROM THE CROSS MEMBER UNDER THE JEEP THAT THE HOLES ARE RUSTED OUT. IN FACT THE FRAME ON BOTH SIDES OF OUR JEEP ARE RUSTED THROUGH FROM NOT HAVING ANY DRAIN HOLES FOR THE WATER TO DRAIN OUT.
2000 Jeep Wrangler
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2000 Jeep Wrangler do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 265.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Wrangler years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
116 reports with mileage · 135 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Power Train. Review the 70 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Structure. Review the 56 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Suspension. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
Suspension complaints
25 reportsFRAME ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AROUND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CHASSIS IS OTHERWISE RUST FREE, BUT IT SPONTANEOUSLY ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM DISCONNECTED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LEAVING THE REAR AXLE FREE FLOATING, UNSTABLE, AND VERY LIKELY TO CAUSE A CRASH. THE FRAME HAS HOLES IN IT THAT…
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FRAME ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT AROUND THE LOWER CONTROL ARMS. THE CHASSIS IS OTHERWISE RUST FREE, BUT IT SPONTANEOUSLY ROTTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THE LOWER CONTROL ARM DISCONNECTED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY, LEAVING THE REAR AXLE FREE FLOATING, UNSTABLE, AND VERY LIKELY TO CAUSE A CRASH. THE FRAME HAS HOLES IN IT THAT LET WATER IN. THERE IS NO DRAINAGE HOLE WHERE THE FRAME GOES FROM FLAT ON THE BOTTOM AND CURVES UP AROUND THE WHEEL WELLS. WATER GETS INTO THE FRAME, SITS THERE, AND ROTS IT FROM THE INSIDE OUT. THERE IS NO WAY TO SEE THIS ROT FROM THE OUTSIDE AND THERE IS NO WAY TO FIX IT WITHOUT CUTTING OPEN THE FRAME AND WELDING IN REPAIRS. IF YOU GOOGLE IMAGE SEARCH "JEEP TJ FRAME ROT" YOU CAN SEE OTHER CASES OF THE FRAME FAILING IN THE EXACT SAME LOCATION. HERE'S A BLOG POST WITH SEVERAL INSTANCES OF IT HTTPS://SARAHSTONESADIE.BLOGSPOT.COM/2019/05/JEEP-TJ-FRAME-RECALL.HTML IF YOU GOOGLE "TJ FRAME CAP" YOU'LL SEE THERE'S AN ENTIRE SUB MARKET OF PRODUCTS SPECIFICALLY MADE TO ADDRESS THIS FAILURE. TOYOTA HAD A FRAME RECALL, WHY CAN'T JEEP? IT'S CLEARLY FAILING IN THE EXACT SAME PLACE AND CAN CAUSE SEVERE SAFETY ISSUES. ATTACHED IS A PICTURE "PRE_ROT" THAT SHOWED IT ABOUT 6 MONTHS(?) BEFORE IT COMPLETELY ROTTED THROUGH. THE OTHER PICTURE IS AFTER IT FAILED WHILE DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY. IT WAS A SMALL RUST BUBBLE THAT STARTED FROM THE INSIDE OUT THAT FAIRLY RAPIDLY RESULTED IN COMPLETE STRUCTURAL FAILURE.
2000 JEEP WRANGLER TJ WITH VISIBLE FRAME RUST IN FRONT OF REAR WHEELS. LACK OF DRAINAGE HOLES ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THROUGH FACTORY DRILLED FRAME HOLES LOCATED IN FRONT AND REAR WHEEL WELLS AND ACCUMULATE IN THE LOWER PARTS OF THE FRAME. BY THE TIME RUST IS VISIBLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME, THE INSIDE HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPROM…
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2000 JEEP WRANGLER TJ WITH VISIBLE FRAME RUST IN FRONT OF REAR WHEELS. LACK OF DRAINAGE HOLES ALLOWS WATER TO ENTER THROUGH FACTORY DRILLED FRAME HOLES LOCATED IN FRONT AND REAR WHEEL WELLS AND ACCUMULATE IN THE LOWER PARTS OF THE FRAME. BY THE TIME RUST IS VISIBLE ON THE OUTSIDE OF THE FRAME, THE INSIDE HAS ALREADY BEEN COMPROMISED TO A GREATER DEGREE AS THE RUST PROGRESSES FROM THE INSIDE OUT. AFTER RESEARCHING ONLINE IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THIS MODEL. THERE ARE READILY AVAILABLE KITS TO REPAIR THESE JEEP FRAMES FROM SEVERAL PRIVATE COMPANIES WHICH ILLUSTRATES THE SEVERITY AND PREVALENCE OF THIS PROBLEM. ALTHOUGH THE PARTS ARE AVAILABLE AND INEXPENSIVE, THE COST OF INSTALLATION AS WITH MOST MAJOR VEHICLE REPAIR, IS DANGEROUS AND REQUIRES WELDING WITH SPECIALIZED EQUIPMENT AND SKILLS. A REPAIR COMPLETED BY AN UNQUALIFIED PERSON MAY RESULT IN A VEHICLE UNSAFE FOR USE ON PUBLIC ROADS. THIS VEHICLE HAS 175000 MILES DRIVEN ENTIRELY (EXCEPT ONE TRIP TO ATLANTA) IN TENNESSEE. THIS VEHICLE HAS BEEN DRIVEN ALMOST ENTIRELY ON PAVED PUBLIC ROADS. *TR
MY JEEP HAS 149,000 MILES. I AM ONLY THE SECOND OWNER. ON APRIL 20, 2019 I DROVE MY JEEP WRANGLER TJ SPORT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. I PARKED IT AND WENT BACK 5 MINUTES LATER. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE THREE RUST HOLES IN THE BRAKE LIN…
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MY JEEP HAS 149,000 MILES. I AM ONLY THE SECOND OWNER. ON APRIL 20, 2019 I DROVE MY JEEP WRANGLER TJ SPORT APPROXIMATELY 10 MILES. I PARKED IT AND WENT BACK 5 MINUTES LATER. WHEN I DEPRESSED THE BRAKE PEDAL IT WENT TO THE FLOOR. I HAD IT TOWED TO MY MECHANIC. THE MECHANIC TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE THREE RUST HOLES IN THE BRAKE LINES WHICH WERE LEAKING BRAKE FLUID. HE ALSO INFOMRED ME THAT THE FRAME WAS SO RUSTED THAT IT WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE AT HIGH SPEEDS. I TOOK IT TO A AUTO FRAME SHOP AND WAS GIVEN AN ESTIMATE OF $6,100.00 TO HAVE THE FRAME REPAIRED. I HAVE RESEARCHED THIS ISSUE AND DISCOVERED THAT THEIR IS A COTTAGE INDUSTRY WHICH HAS SPRUNG UP DUE TO THE MULTIPLE JEEPS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. THEY NOTE IN THEIR ADVERTISING THAT THE CHRYSTLER/JEEP WRANGLER T.J. FRAMES WERE MANUFACTURED WITHOUT DRAIN HOLES. THE FRAMES DO HAVE HOLES ON THEIR SIDES JUST BEHIND AND TIRES. WATER FROM THE TIRES GETS SPLASHED UP INTO THE FRAMES. IF YOU LIVE IN THE NORTHEASTERN UNITED STATES THAT MEANS HIGHLY COROSIVE SALT WATER IS BEING SPLASHED UP INTO THE FRAMES ON THESE JEEPS AND RUSTING THE FRAMES FROM THE INSIDE OUT. I HAVE READ ABOUT MULTIPLE JEEP WRANGLER TJ'S SUFFERING FRAME FAILURES DUE TO THE RUST. I AM SHOCKED THAT CHRYSTLER/JEEP HAS NOT RECALLED THE WRANGLER TJ'S TO INSPECT, REPAIR OR REPLACE THE FRAMES ON THEM. I CANNOT BELIEVE CHRYSTLER/JEEP IS UNAWARE OF THE PROBLEM. TOYATA HAS A SIMILAR PROBLEM WITH THEIR TRUCK FRAMES AND THEY HAVE RECALLED VEHICLES. I CANNOT UNDERSTAND WHY THE NHTSA HAS NOT STEPPED UP AND FORCED CHRYSTLER/JEEP TO RECALL THESE VEHICLES. THE OLDER VEHILES ARE NOT SAFE. IT IS YOUR ETHICAL RESPONSIBILITY TO DO SOMETHING TO PROTECT THE CONSUMERS!
JEEP HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AND IS WELL MAINTAINED NEVER OFF ROAD. . WAS DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE WHEN THE REAR END FELT LIKE IT WAS SEPARATING FROM THE BODY OF THE JEEP. JEEP BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL AND I WAS ALMOST HIT TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. JEEP WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO SAID THE FRAME IS NO GOOD REAR C…
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JEEP HAS LESS THAN 40,000 MILES AND IS WELL MAINTAINED NEVER OFF ROAD. . WAS DRIVING OVER A BRIDGE WHEN THE REAR END FELT LIKE IT WAS SEPARATING FROM THE BODY OF THE JEEP. JEEP BECAME IMPOSSIBLE TO CONTROL AND I WAS ALMOST HIT TRYING TO GET THE VEHICLE OFF THE ROAD. JEEP WAS TOWED TO MECHANIC WHO SAID THE FRAME IS NO GOOD REAR CONTROL ARMS SEPARATED FROM THE FRAME THE FRAME HAD RUSTED OUT FROM THE INSIDE. THERE IS NO SOLID STEEL LEFT TO WELD ONTO.
FRAME RUSTED FROM INSIDE OUT CAUSING BOTH UPPER AND LOWER CONTROL ARMS AND PASSENGER REAR TO SEPARATE. LUCKILY IT DID NOT HAPPEN WHILE DRIVING , WAS NOTICED WHEN SAFETY INSPECTION WAS DONE.
JEEP FRAME HAS RUSTED FROM INSIDE TO OUT. COULD HAVE BEEN VERY SERIOUS. MADE POPPING NOISE.
ALL NOTES I HAVE FOUND INCLUDING ONLINE FORMS REQUESTING THIS YEAR KEEPS FRAME BE RECALLED, ROTTEN AT BUMPERS WHERE STEERING COMES INTO PLAY AND OTHER SPOTS MID FRAME... HUSBAND WAS DRIVING WHEN THE FRAME LET GO, HE WAS IN ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AT ALL! THE JEEP WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED WHICH CAUSED T…
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ALL NOTES I HAVE FOUND INCLUDING ONLINE FORMS REQUESTING THIS YEAR KEEPS FRAME BE RECALLED, ROTTEN AT BUMPERS WHERE STEERING COMES INTO PLAY AND OTHER SPOTS MID FRAME... HUSBAND WAS DRIVING WHEN THE FRAME LET GO, HE WAS IN ABLE TO STEER THE VEHICLE AT ALL! THE JEEP WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND HAD TO BE TOWED WHICH CAUSED THE ROAD TO BECOME UNSAFE AS IT WAS STOPPED AT THE BOTTOM OF A HILL WITH TRAFFIC FLYING OVER THE HILL... HE ALMOST GO HIT 5 TIMES HE COULD HAVE DIED EASILY HAD HE NOT JUMPED OUT AND CALLED FOR IMMEDIATE ASSISTANCE
FRAME HAS BEEN RUSTING PREMATURELY FOR MANY YEARS AND IS A DANGER!
TAMARA RECALL MY 2000 JEEP WRANGLER THE FRAME IS ROTTED AWAY IN THE REAR WHERE IT GOES ABOVE THE REAR AXEL.
Official recalls
102V104000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:fuel Injection System:injectors
Apr 8, 2002
ON CERTAIN SPORT UTILITY VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 4.0L ENGINE ONLY, THE DESIGN OF THE INTAKE AND EXHAUST MANIFOLDS COULD ALLOW DEBRIS TO ACCUMULATE AT THE #3 CYLINDER LOCATION.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: THIS COULD RESULT IN A VEHICLE FIRE.
Remedy: DEALERS WILL INSTALL A MANIFOLD SHIELD TO MODIFY THE AIR FLOW CHARACTERISTICS AND TO PREVENT THE ACCUMULATION OF DEBRIS IN THE AREA OF THE #3 CYLINDER. OWNER NOTIFICATION BEGAN MAY 13, 2002. OWNERS WHO TAKE THEIR VEHICLES TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALER ON AN AGREED UPON SERVICE DATE AND DO NOT RECEIVE THE FREE REMEDY WITHIN A REASONABLE TIME SHOULD CONTACT DAIMLERCHRYSLER AT 1-800-853-1403.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1PE00018 · Air Bag Module Detachment
Opened Apr 14, 2000 · Closed Oct 13, 2000
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags
ODI HAS RECEIVED A COMMPLAINT STATING THAT THE DRIVER-SIDE FRONTAL AIR BAG MODULE DETACHED FROM THE STEERING WHEEL WHILE ATTEMPTION TO USE THE HORN FOR THE FIRST TIME IN A BRAND NEW MODEL YEAR 2000 JEEP WRANGLE (PURCHASED I LATE MARCH 2000).THE AIR BAG MODULE FELL OFF THE STEERING WHEEL AND WAS HANGING BY ITS WIRES.THE REPAIRING DELERSHIP STATED THAT THE TWO MOUNTING SCREWS, HOLDING THE INTEGTATED HORN/AIR BAG MODULE TO THE STEERING WHEEL, WERE MISSING.THIS INVESTIGATIONN IS OPENED TO DETERMINE THE SCOPE OF THE POTENTIAL PROBLEM OF MIS-ASSEMBLED AIR BAG MODULES IN TH EJEEP WRANGLE VEHICLES.
Illustration